Conbridge



C. E. FALCONBRIDGE AND I. W. LEWSLEY. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CURTAINS AND LIGHTS IN THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 2,1919.

Patented N (W. 25, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES EAR]? FALCONBRIDGE AND JAMES WILLIAM LEWSLEY, or NOTTINGHAM,

ENGLAND.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CURTAINS AND LIGHTS IN THEATERS.

Patented NOV-'25, 1919.

Application filed June 2, 1919. Serial No. 301,321.

I To all whom it mag concern in at Nottin ham in En land have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical [Apparatus for Controlling'Gurtains and Lights in Theaters, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical apparatus-for 'controlling'the 'curtains and lights in connection with the projecting screenor proscenium of a cineniotog'raph or other theaterand for like purposes, and its'object is to-provide means for effecting the beforementioned operations,

which can'be put intoa'etiom'from any distant point, say-for example from the'operators box'or cabin, or from two or more dis- .tant points. "According which operate to this -invention the cords the respective curtains are carried'around a drum driven by an electromotor, and the said cords are so disposed that the curtains are drawn open by rotating the drum in one direction, and closed by reversingthe direction of rotation.

- The electro-mot0r is, controlled by three switches, that is, a starting switch with a no volt release, an auxiliary switch in parallel .with the starting switch, and a reversing switch. After starting, the auxiliary and reversing switches are automatically operated by means .of mechanism actuated by ltappets on the curtain cords, sofas to stop the motorwhen the operation is completed, and-at thesame time reverse the armature connections ready for starting the motor aga n in the reversedirection. Referring to the accompanymg,v draw- Figure l. is an elevation, and y Fig.- 2. a plan of apparatus constructed and arranged according to our invention.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

.,The curtains arranged in the (which are'not shown) are usual manner, and are drawn by means of two endless cords A and The drum drumC. This drum 'a-xlell carriedby astandard D B, both otwhich are carried over a grooved C is mounted on an secured on a base plate E. I C described isconnected to and driven by means of an electro-motcr F fixed switch in the armature circuit.

switch described, is a reversing pulley F on the shaft of the motor'F, and

a round driving belt H.

The motor is controlled by a starting switch with a no-volt release, an auxiliary switch which is in parallel with and shortcircuits the starting switch, and a reversing The starting switch can be placed at any distant point, while the auxiliary and reversing switches are for convenience placed near the motor driven drum C, and are moved over by tappets on the curtain cords 'actlng ona longitudmal slide J.

This slide J works in guidewa-ys Don the standard D previously described, and is provided at its ends with eyes J through which the respective cords'A and B are carried. The-cords A and B are provided with clips 1C (only oneo'f which is shown) which act as tappets and move the slide J in one direction near the completion of the curtain closing movement, and move it in the reverse direction near the completion of the curtain opening movement.

The auxiliary switch is carried in a casing L secured on the base plate E, and its operating lever M which is mounted on an axle N, is provided. with a weight M which moves over the vertical centers each movement. This lever M is disposed in the path of two tappets J 2 on the slide J, and when the latter is moved, the arm M 1s engaged by one of the said tappets J and moved over the vertical center, when the weight M comes into action and completes the movement.

The auxiliary switch comprises-a wiper arinN mounted on the same axle N as the operating lever M, and a fixed contact 0 over which the said arm N moves.

The wiper arm N only makes contact with the Contact 0 and closes the switch when it is in its intermediate position, and on the completion of each movement-of the lever M, which is effected by the action of the weight M, the wiper arm Nis moved clear of the contact 0 and opens theswitch again.

In t 1e same casing L as the supplementary switch which isin series with both the starting and auxiliary switches, and the armature otthe motor F. This switch is of the usual construction, and comprises two contact arms P P connected by an insulated connecting link P and fixed contacts Q over which the arms P P move. This switch is reversed each time the arm N of the auxiliary switch is moved over as previously described, by means of tappets N on the arm N engaging with a stud P on the connecting link P In parallel with the auxiliary switch dcscribed and in series with the motor F, is the starting switch R, which may be placed at any convenient distant position.

This switch may be an ordinary motor starting switch with a no-volt release, Or as shown, it may be of the push-in type, which is held in the closed position by means of an electromagnet S in the circuit, against the action of a spring T, which latter opens the switch as soon as the current fails.

The electrical connections between the different parts of the apparatus are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

When the starting switch R is closed, the motor F is started by current supplied through this switch circuit and assuming that the curtains were closed they immediately commence to open. Near the completion of this opening movement, a cli K on one of the curtain cords engages with the eye J and commences to move the main switch actuating slide J. The action of the latter first closes the auxiliary switch, which short-circuits the starting switch B, when the latter is released and automatically opens. The motor now continues to run with current supplied through the auxiliary switch, until the operating arm M on the latter reaches a certain point when the action of the weight M on the latter carries the arm over to the other extreme position.

This action opens the auxiliary switch again, stops the motor F, and at the same time moves over the arms P P of the reversing switch, and reverses the armature circuit.

When the starting switch R is again closed, the same action takes place, but in F runs in the reverse near the completion of this movement, a clip K on the other cord moves the slide J in the reverse direction, the auxiliary and reversing switches are returned to their first position again, and the motor automatically stopped as before.

In order to control the lights, one of the curtain cords may be carried over and drive a pulley 7 light dimming rheostat and switch in series with the lights. off the current as the curtains open, and performs the reverse operation when they are closed again. In the preferred arrangement which is geared to preferably a This rheostat'gradually cuts however the light dimming rheostat W is driven direct from the drum C by an independent belt V.

Apparatus such as described may be used for operating the curtains alone, or foropcrating one or more switches or other devices. from a distance point, or be adapted to operate the curtains and two or more switches or devices simultaneously. It is also obvious that the control may be effected from one or more distant points, by roviding starting switches disposed in para lel with each other and the auxiliary switch.

What we claim as our invention and' desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

Ina paratus forcontrolling the curtains and ights in connectionwith a r0jeet-. ing screen or proscenium and for lilie purposes the combmation of an electro-motor ior operating rgie curtain, a starting switchgwith a no-volt case, an auxiliary swi chw lfil is moved over by the driven mechanism, ands reversing switch which is moved over ,hyjthe auxiliary switch which latter is in arallol with and adapted to first close an shortcircuit the starting switch and they, pen on and stop the motor, substantially a c scribed. 7

2. In apparatus for controlling the-c111- tain and lights in connection with a rejecting screen or proscenium and for li epl'lrposes, the combination of a cord dru rnjor moving the curtain cords, an el'ectro-Inotor for driving the drum, and three switches ficontrolling the motor, that is, a switch with a no-volt release, an auxilia switch which is moved over by appease the curtain cords, and a reversing which is moved over by the auxiliaryswitch which latter is in parallel with and adapted to first close and short-circuit thestartiug 0 switch and then open" and stop the motor, substantially as described. s 3. In apparatus for controlling the cur tains and lights in connection with a" jecting screen or proscenium and 'for purposes, the com mation of a cord drum or moving the curtain cords," an electromotor for driving the" drum, a 'istarti I switch with a no-volt release, an auxiliary} switch which is moved over by tappets 019515 the curtain cords, a reversing switclij" eh is moved over b the auxiliary switch jhich latter is in para lel'with and adaptedto' first close and short-cirwiflthe starting switch and then open and stop'the tudinal slide provided withf-eye's't which the curtain cords are emi atgsw H 3-" on the latter for engaging with and mo the slide, a weighted'o 4. In apparatus for controlling'the cur motor, a;

rating'lever in nection with the auxilila ry switch, and h p?! pets on the slide to engage with and tain and lights in connection with a proj ecting screen or proscenium and for like purposes, the combination of a cord drum for moving the curtain cords, an electro-motor for driving the drum, a starting switch with a no-volt release, an auxiliary switch which is moved over by tappets on the curtain cords, a reversing switch which is moved over by the auxiliary switch which latter is in parallel with and adapted to first close and short circuit the starting switch and then open and stop the motor, and tappets on the arm of the auxiliary switch for mov- Y ing over the reversing switch, substantially as described.

5. 'In apparatus for controlling the curtain and lights in connection with a projecting screen or proscenium and for like purposes, the combination of a cord drum for moving the curtain cords, an electro-inotor for driving the drum, a starting switch with a no-volt release, an auxiliary switch which is moved over by tappets on the curtain cords, a reversing switch which is moved over by the auxiliary switch which latter is in parallel with and adapted to first close and short circuit the starting switch and then open and stop the motor, and a light dimmer connected to and controlled by the action of the curtain cord drum.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES EARP FALCONBRlDGE. JAMES WILLIAM LEWSLEY. Witnesses:

FANNY H. MALLETT, THos. H. COOK. 

